Unusual Combo Unites for Show
Bassoon, marimba and flute perform ‘Mosaics’ in Taos
Eric Ewazen’s 1993 trio “Mosaics” was written for Taos Chamber Music Group’s bassoonist Toni Lipton and two other musicians, all of whom were playing in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra at the time.
“It’s written for a rather unusual combo,” said Ewazen, who teaches at The Juilliard School in New York. “It’s not often that the bassoon, marimba and flute play together. They create a very special color.”
Ewazen will travel to Taos to introduce “Mosaics” to Taos Chamber Music Group’s audience during the ensemble’s opening season concert this weekend at the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos.
“The title of the piece comes from the idea of color in tile mosaics,” he explained. “I also thought about the color found in the music of the impressionist composers. The structure of the piece is French Baroque. The trio plays a barcarole followed by a fantasy/fugue, pavanne and a gigue. The sounds, however, are neo-romantic and impressionistic. I always have a singing line in my pieces.”
“In ‘Mosaics,’ every instrument has to pull its own weight. Balance is an important consideration,” Ewazen added. “Each instrument is in the forefront, regardless of the register in which it is playing.”
Lipton, marimbist Angela Gabriel, pianist Robert Tweeten, mezzo-soprano Kirsten Lear and Taos Chamber Music Group’s artistic director and flutist Nancy Laupheimer present the concert, which features Spanish, Latin, popular, jazz and folk musical influences.
In addition to “Mosaics,” the program includes “Trio” for flute, bassoon and piano by Chick Corea, “Dos Aires Candomberos” by Maximo Diego Pujol, “Seven Popular Spanish Songs” by Manuel de Falla, “Suite de Ballet” for flute and piano by Vaughan Williams and songs by Ricky Ian Gordon.
Playing Vaughan Williams’ “Suite de Ballet” is particularly significant for Laupheimer because she performed this work on the first concert of Taos Chamber Music Group’s first season in 1993.
Taos Chamber Music Group will celebrate its 20th season this year by performing nine concerts from September through early June. Many of the programs contain pieces that the musicians have enjoyed performing during the past 19 years.
Among the season’s guest artists are Native American musician Robert Mirabal and the American String Quartet. Taos Chamber Music Group also will present two commissioned works, including “La Prose du Transsiberien” by Matthew Suttor, the director of the Center for Theatrical Sound Design and Music at the Yale School of Drama.
Ticketholders can receive a special discount at Downtown Bistro, Dragonfly Cafe, Doc Martin’s or Lambert’s restaurants before the 7:30 p.m. concerts or after the 5 p.m. concerts. For more information about this offer and detailed information about the upcoming season, visit the ensemble’s website at www. taoschambermusicgroup.org.